Apple Watch SE 2 vs Fitbit Versa 4 Comparison

Both the Apple Watch SE 2022 and the Fitbit Versa 4 can be had for between $200 and $250; this makes them competitive despite the fact that most people wouldn’t consider them to be in the same price range.

Their middle-of-the-road prices mean they compete for the same customers as the Apple Watch 8 and the Fitbit Sense 2: those looking for a multipurpose smartwatch with more features than a fitness tracker but unwilling to pay the premiums those devices demand.

You could compare the Versa 4 to the iWatch 8, but it would be an unfair fight. The Apple Watch 8 is a different league entirely, costing nearly two times as much as the Versa 4.

As you may know, the Apple Watch is not compatible with Android phones, so in this guide we will compare the Fitbit Versa 4 and the Apple Watch SE 2 to determine which is the superior smartwatch for iPhone users.

General Overview:

	Apple Watch SE 2	Fitbit Versa 4
Release Date	September 2022	August 2022
Predecessor	Apple Watch SE	Fitbit Versa 3
Company	Apple Inc	Fitbit
Operating System	Wear OS	Fitbit OS
Compatible Smartphones	iOS	Android and iOS
Competition	Galaxy Watch 4, Fitbit Sense 2,  Garmin Fenix 6	Galaxy Watch 5, Garmin Fenix 7
Sensors	optical heart sensor, Compass, altimeter, accelerometer, Gyroscope	Multi-path optical heart rate sensor, Red and infrared sensors for oxygen saturation (SpO2) monitoring, Altimeter, 3-axis accelerometer, Ambient light sensor, Vibration motor

Pricing:

Both watches, as we have already established, are competitively priced. Both the Apple Watch SE 2022 and the Fitbit Versa 4 have starting prices of $250.

The Versa 4’s price increases dramatically, however, when you factor in a Fitbit Premium subscription (around $10 monthly). We’re favouring SE because of how little it will cost you up front.

Winner: Apple Watch SE (2022)

Design & Display:

	Apple Watch SE 2	Fitbit Versa 4
Dimensions	44mm: 44 x 38 x 10.7mm,  40mm: 40mm x 34mm x 10.7mm	40.5 x 40.5 x 11.2 mm
Buttons	1 button+ Digital Crown	1 button
Weight	44mm: 32.9g | 40mm: 26.4g	37.64 G
Colors	midnight, starlight, and silver.	Beet Juice/Copper Rose, Black/Graphite, Pink Sand/Copper Rose, Waterfall Blue/Platinum
Band Size	Not specified	Not specified
Casing Material	Aluminum	Aluminum
Strap Material	Silicone	Silicone
Screen Size	44mm: 1.5 inches | 40mm: 1.17 inches	1.6 inches
Screen Type	Retina LTPO OLED display	AMOLED
Screen Resolution	44mm: 368x 448 pixels | 40mm: 324×394 pixels	454 x 454 pixels
Screen Protection	Ion-X front glass	Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Always-on Display	Yes	Yes
Waterproofing	5 ATM (up to 50m) | Suitable for Shower, Swimming	5 ATM (up to 50m) | Suitable for Shower, Swimming

The second generation Apple Watch SE comes in two case diameters (40mm and 44mm) and a rainbow of hues. An AMOLED screen is covered by shatterproof Ion-X glass. Each size of watch has a unique display resolution. The always-on screen also didn’t make the cut for the original iWatch SE. This watch can be submerged in water up to 50 metres deep without damage.

However, the Fitbit Versa 4 comes in only one size and has a more compact design. Comparatively, the new Versa’s casing is thinner and more compact than the first generation iWatch SE. It also sports a similarly resolute AMOLED screen, which is shielded by a layer of Gorilla Glass 3. The watch, like the Apple Watch, features an always-on display and is resistant to water for up to 50 metres.

The slim profile of the Fitbit Versa 4 makes it more wearable for extended periods of time. As a result, you can wear it for as long as necessary without getting tired. Since the other specifications are equivalent, Fitbit wins this comparison because of its superior design.

Winner: Fitbit Versa 4

Smartwatch Features:

	Apple Watch SE 2	Fitbit Versa 4
Operating System	Watch OS	Fitbit OS
Connectivity Options	LTE and UMTS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0	Bluetooth® LE, Wifi
Processor	S8 with 64-bit dual-core processor	Not Specified
RAM	1GB RAM	Not Specified
Storage	32GB	7 days of detailed motion data
Companion App	Watch	Fitbit
Contactless Payment (NFC)	Apple Pay	Fitbit and Google Pay
Standalone Calling and Texting	Yes	No
Voice Assistant	Siri	Google Assistant, Alexa

The Fitbit Versa was primarily a fitness tracker with some useful smart features, despite the company’s marketing of it as a “smartwatch.”

Similar to its forerunner, the Versa 4, it features two voice assistants (Alexa and Google Assistant) and an mp3 music storage capacity. Contactless payments can also be made with the watch, with two options available in Fitbit Pay and Google Pay. Google Maps, however, is a major addition to the watch and is included by default.

The Apple Watch SE 2 may be a scaled-down version of the Watch 8, but it still has superior intelligence to the Versa 4. In addition to making and receiving phone calls and texts, the LTE model can also make contactless payments, control Internet of Things (IoT) devices with Siri, and access a wide variety of watch faces and third-party apps.

Winner: Apple Watch SE (2022)

Health Tracking and Fitness Features:

	Apple Watch SE 2	Fitbit Versa 4
Heart Rate Tracking	Yes	Yes
Sleep Monitoring	Yes (Advanced)	Yes(Advance)
Stress Tracking	Yes	Yes
ECG Monitoring	No	No
Blood Oxygen Saturation (SpO2) monitoring	No	Yes
Workouts	20+	40+
Automatic Workout Tracking	No	Yes
GPS Tracking	L1 GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and QZSS	GPS, GLONASS

When compared to the iWatch 8, the Apple Watch SE is lacking in every way imaginable of health monitoring. Its strength, however, lies in its ability to track fitness fundamentals. When it comes to sports tracking, it has access to the same workout profiles as the Watch 8. These profiles cover a wide variety of sports and physical activities, from running and cycling to swimming and yoga. It’s a handy accessory for athletes of all kinds, as it features an always-on altimeter and built-in GPS.

The Fitbit Versa 4, much like the iWatch, is missing some of the more sophisticated health monitoring features of its more expensive relatives. Although it can’t perform electrocardiograms or sophisticated stress tests like the Apple Watch, it does monitor blood oxygen saturation levels. Both also feature additional sensors like a Global Positioning System (GPS), altimeter, and gyroscope.

While the Activity Ring-based fitness tracking system has remained the same, the new metrics added to popular sports workouts in WatchOS9 make it an improvement. For Fitbit’s operating system to monitor your health, you must stay in a “Activity Zone” for a minimum number of minutes each day. Features like “Readiness Score” and “Sleep Profile” help you better understand how your body is reacting to training, putting it at the forefront of training and recovery insights.

Winner: Fitbit Versa 4

Battery Performance:

	Apple Watch SE 2	Fitbit Versa 4
Battery Type	Lithium-ion	Lithium-ion
Expected Battery Performance	Up to 18, hours+36 hours in basic mode	Up to 6 Days
Fast Charging Support	No	No

As of this writing, Fitbit’s Versa 4 has a claimed battery life of 6 days or more on a single charge. A similar claim was made for the prior year’s model, and our experience with the Versa 3 showed that it could last for at least 5-6 days with typical use.

In terms of the Apple Watch, the time marker is effectively chiselled into the rock after 18 hours. Even if you are extremely sparing with its use, you will still need to charge your Watch every night.

Winner: Fitbit Versa 4

Final Verdict:

Although the Apple Watch SE 2 is more tightly integrated with the rest of the Apple Echosystem, it cannot compete with the Fitbit Versa 4 in terms of price/performance. It’s cheaper than its competitors, has a longer battery life, and can track your fitness and health more accurately.